Dan in points to boost Stags

Dan Malem weighed in with the bulk of Huntingdon's points as they overcame a tricky hurdle to reach the next round of the Intermediate Cup.

Tad Chapman touched down the first score, hitting the perfect line at pace from full-back to score beneath the posts and Malem added the conversion before kicking a penalty. However, Old Cooperians were level at the break.

Two further penalties from Malem and Ben Strangeways' try after a sustained spell of pressure put Huntingdon further ahead before the visitors pulled back a converted touch down.

"It was a very different performance," said coach Damien Whales. "They asked some very different questions of us that we've not come up against before, they were very abrasive.

"They were a good side but we weathered any storm they came up with. It was a huge step forward as a team, as the physicality was different to what we had faced before. It required a different set of skills and we kept going forward, so it was very pleasing.

"The last five to 10 minutes we were under real pressure facing up to 10 scrums in a row under the posts where they were hammering us - and we held out."

He added: "It was an outstanding performance from Rory Parker and James Thorp. They were the difference really."